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KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of California San Diego men's and women's soccer programs were announced last Thursday, Oct. 5, as recipients of the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2016-17 academic year. This marks the fifth consecutive honor for each.

A total of 841 college soccer squads (295 men, 546 women) in all divisions earned the award. Of that number, UC San Diego was among 210 schools that had both its men and women recognized.

UCSD's 29 players under head coach Jon Pascale on the 2016 men's team combined for a 3.29 grade-point average. Brian McManus' 30 Triton women produced a 3.03 GPA collectively.

The award, first instituted in 1996, was given to the two Triton teams in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well. The United Soccer Coaches rebranded from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) prior to the 2017 season.

United Soccer Coaches annually celebrates the academic achievements of college and high school soccer teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full school year. The awards run one school year behind. This season's will thus be announced next fall.

College Team Academic Award recipients are active members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program with a composite grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for all players on the roster. The team mark is determined by adding each individual's GPA, and then dividing by the number of players.

The UC San Diego teams play at Humboldt State this Friday, Oct. 13, with the eighth-ranked women kicking off at 12:30 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.